Yesterday, I completed the AFC roster, so today its time for my NFC Pro Bowl voting:
Quarterbacks (3):
Drew Brees, New Orleans; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay; Matthew Stafford, Detroit
Explanation: Rodgers is looking like a runaway MVP this season, posting a ridiculous 129.1 quarterback rating and a 24-3 TD:INT ratio. Brees has struggled somewhat with consistency, but has still thrown 21 touchdowns this year. Stafford has been equally important to the Lions success, as he's finally healthy and able to show off his skill set (19 TD, 4 INT).
Honorable Mention: Eli Manning, New York; Michael Vick, Philadelphia; Alex Smith, San Francisco; Cam Newton, Carolina
Running Backs (3):
LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia; Matt Forte, Chicago; Frank Gore, San Francisco
Explanation: Both McCoy and Forte are no-brainers here, as they're both in the top three in the NFL in yards from scrimmage. I chose Frank Gore over Adrian Peterson largely because of the 49ers success, because Peterson is slightly ahead in both yards (798-782) and touchdowns (9-5).
Honorable Mention: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Michael Turner, Atlanta; Beanie Wells, Arizona
Wide Receivers (4):
Steve Smith, Carolina; Greg Jennings, Green Bay; Calvin Johnson, Detroit; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
Explanation: Smith is second in the league in receiving yards, as the arrival of Cam Newton has him revitalized. Jennings is Aaron Rodgers #1 weapon, and is on pace for just under 100 catches and 1,500 yards. Megatron is a touchdown catching machine who is a physical mismatch for any corner he's paired against (11 touchdowns through 8 games). Larry Fitzgerald is the only consistent pass-catching weapon in Arizona, and is putting up good numbers despite seeing constant double coverage.
Honorable Mention: Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia; Hakeem Nicks, New York; Jordy Nelson, Green Bay
Fullback (1):
Bruce Miller, San Francisco
Explanation: The power running game is a large reason why San Francisco is 7-1 this year. Miller has consistently helped open up holes for Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, as S.F. is 6th in the NFL with an average of 136.6 yards per game.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Klutts, Chicago
Tight Ends (2):
Jimmy Graham, New Orleans; Jason Witten, Dallas
Explanation: Graham is on pace to have the greatest statistical season in NFL history for a tight end. Currently he's at 55 catches, 791 yards and 5 touchdowns. Witten's statistics are good enough (44, 548, 4) to warrant the Pro Bowl berth, but there's arguably no other tight end in football that is as good of an in-line blocker as Witten.
Honorable Mention: JerMichael Finley, Green Bay; Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta; Greg Olsen, Carolina; Fred Davis, Washington
Offensive Tackles (3):
Jason Peters, Philadelphia; Jordan Gross, Carolina; Chad Clifton, Green Bay
Explanation: Peters is possibly the most physically dominant tackle in the game, blending his 6'5, 345 pound frame with surprising athleticism and a mean streak. Gross is a hard nosed player that plays smart football, while Chad Clifton is the leader of the Packers young offensive line.
Honorable Mention: Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans; Jeremy Trueblood, Tampa Bay
Offensive Guards (3):
Chris Snee, New York; Jahri Evans, New Orleans; Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota
Explanation: Both Snee and Hutchinson are veteran lineman who maul the players across from them, especially in the run game. Jahri Evans is one of the most technically sound guards in the league, and blends his size, athletic ability and leverage better than most anyone out there.
Honorable Mention: Mike Iupati, San Francisco; Daryn Colledge, Arizona
Centers (2):
Ryan Kalil, Carolina; David Baas, New York
Explanation: Kalil won't wow you with his physical tools, but he uses solid leverage and technique to consistently win in the middle. Baas isn't quite the technician of Kalil, but is similar to Jason Peters in that he uses his massive size (6'4, 315) and plays with a nasty streak typical of Tom Coughlin coached players.
Honorable Mention: Roberto Garza, Chicago; Dominic Raiola, Detroit
Defensive Ends (3):
Jared Allen, Minnesota; Jason Babin, Philadelphia; Julius Peppers, Chicago
Explanation: There are easily ten NFC ends that could be in the discussion for the Pro Bowl, so choosing just three was very hard. Allen leads the league with 12.5 sacks and has also forced three fumbles. Babin has 9 sacks playing in Philadelphia's wide 9 end technique, which allows him to use his good first step and burst to harass quarterbacks. Perhaps there's not a more complete defensive end in the game than Peppers, who has the size of a defensive tackle mixed with 4.7 speed and excellent run-pass recognition.
Honorable Mention: Osi Umenyiora, New York; Charles Johnson, Carolina; Chris Long, St. Louis
Defensive Tackles (3):
Cullen Jenkins, Philadelphia; Justin Smith, San Francisco; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit
Explanation: Jenkins leads all NFC defensive tackles in sacks (5.0). Smith is stout against the run, but is similar to Kyle Williams of the Bills in that he's at his best shooting the gap with his good burst. Suh is the nastiest defensive player I've seen since Lawerence Taylor, and uses his ridiculous strength and ability to play with leverage to get after opposing quarterbacks.
Honorable Mention: B.J. Raji, Green Bay; Jay Ratliff, Dallas
Inside Linebackers (2):
Patrick Willis, San Francisco; Brian Urlacher, Chicago
Explanation: Willis is simply frightening with his rare combination of size (6'1, 240) with speed (4.4 40-yard dash at the combine) and impeccable instincts. Urlacher is now in his mid-30's, but is still a top flight linebacker who almost always gets his team in the right position, and also does a great job of reading the quarterbacks eyes (3 interceptions this season).
Honorable Mention: Desmond Bishop, Green Bay; London Fletcher, Washington
Outside Linebackers (3):
DeMarcus Ware, Dallas; Brian Orakpo, Washington; Ahmad Brooks, San Francisco
Explanation: Ware is the best pass-rushing linebacker in the game, and is second to Jared Allen in the NFL in sacks (12.0). Orakpo couples his burst off the line with a top-notch bull rush. Brooks is a young player who leads the 49ers top-five defense in sacks (5.0).
Honorable Mention: Clay Matthews, Green Bay; Mathias Kiwanuka, New York; Anthony Spencer, Dallas
Cornerbacks (3):
Nnamdi Asomugha, Philadelphia; Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay; Charles Woodson, Green Bay
Explanation: Asomugha is arguably the second-best man-to-man corner in the league behind Darrelle Revis, using his 6'2, 210 pound frame along with fluid hips to shut people down in bump-and-run coverage. Barber is an ageless wonder, who still has great instincts and is very good in run support as well. Woodson still has some of the best ball skills in the league despite being 35 years old.
Honorable Mention: Carlos Rogers, San Francisco; Chris Houston, Detroit; Asante Samuel, Philadelphia
Strong Safety (1):
Roman Harper, New Orleans
Explanation: Harper is one of the best in-the-box safeties in football, and does a very good job on blitzes, as evidenced by his 5.5 sacks this season. Harper is also a strong hitter, who borders on reckless when playing, which does cause him to occasionally get flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Honorable Mention: Charlie Peprah, Green Bay; Donte Whitner, San Francisco
Free Safety (1):
Morgan Burnett, Green Bay
Explanation: Burnett is similar to a lot of other Packers' secondary players in that he takes calculated risks. More often than not they've paid off, as evidenced by his numbers (3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack).
Honorable Mention: Da'Shon Goldson, San Francisco; Antrel Rolle, New York
Kicker (1):
Mason Crosby, Green Bay
Explanation: A consistently accurate kicker, Crosby has connected on all 15 field goal attempts, including a 58 yarder. Crosby is also blessed with a big leg, and he plays the vast majority of games in the NFC North, where there's a notoriously high number of inclement weather games.
Honorable Mention: Dan Bailey, Dallas; David Akers, San Francisco
Punter (1):
Andy Lee, San Francisco
Explanation: Lee leads the NFC in yards per punt (50.2), and has had over 30 percent of his 42 punts inside the opponents 20.
Honorable Mention: Michael Koenen, Tampa Bay; Donnie Jones, St. Louis
Kick Returner (1):
Devin Hester, Chicago
Explanation: A threat to score every time he touches the ball, Hester is averaging 24.0 yards per kick return, and 15.0 yards per punt return. He's also returned a kickoff 98 yards for a TD, as well as 69 yard punt for a score.
Honorable Mention: Ted Ginn Jr, San Francisco, Patrick Peterson, Arizona
Special Teamer (1):
John Wendling, Detroit
Explanation: Wendling excels on special teams, as he's #1 in the NFL since 2007 (his rookie season) in special teams tackles with 82. Playing with reckless abandon, Wendling uses his top-notch athleticism to be a premier gunner on return coverage units (check out his vertical leap on YouTube, it's ridiculous).
Honorable Mention: Atari Bigby, Seattle
Breakdown By Team:
Bears: 4
Bucs: 1
Cardinals: 1
Cowboys: 2
Eagles: 5
Falcons: 0
49ers: 6
Giants: 2
Lions: 4
Packers: 6
Panthers: 3
Rams: 0
Redskins: 1
Saints: 4
Seahawks: 0
Vikings: 2
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